Report: Renters still active in midst of pandemic

Renters are still active across the United States despite more COVID-19 cases and stay-at-home directives, according to a new survey from RentCafe.

The survey from March 25-27 looked to see how renters' perceptions may have changed from two weeks ago. Of the 7,000 people surveyed, more than half still intend to go on with finding a new rental.

Among the findings:

• 52% of the respondents still plan to move as soon as they find an apartment, which represents only a 4 percentage-point drop compared to two weeks ago.
• The share of renters who plan on postponing their moving process increased from 8% to 10% last week.
• Although most renters (42%) report having no concerns regarding moving out during the pandemic, there was a 6% rise among those wondering whether it's safe to make a move now (from 18% to 24%).
• Two weeks ago, 60% of respondents said they wouldn't postpone their move. The new results indicates a 4% drop. Also, the percentage of those willing to wait it out until they feel safe or the situation gets resolved increased by 3 and 2 percentage points, respectively.
• Despite the general optimism, a sense of added caution does exist: there was a 6% increase in renters relying on online pictures or virtual tours to make their decision.

The full survey results here: https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/real-estate-news/survey-renters-stick-to-original-moving-plans-amid-worsening-pandemic/.